Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Pakistan look to carry winning momentum into Tests. Babar personally didn't have a great T20I series with the bat.
Babar personally didn't have a great T20I series with the bat.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam is hoping to carry forward the winning momentum, after their 3-0 T20I series sweep, as they prepare to take on Bangladesh in the two-match Test series opener, at Chattogram from November 26.
Both teams reached Chattogram on Tuesday (November 23) ahead of the opening Test that will mark the first series for the hosts in the second cycle of the ICC Test Championship.
“Moving forward we would like to keep the momentum (that we earned in the T20 series) in Test matches and we have experienced players in the Test team,” said Babar adding that he is happy to see how his teammates responded in tough situations in the T20Is.
“I think it makes us happy to perform consistently. I think there is team effort but firstly you have to identify where you are struggling and in our case we struggled in fielding and in the middle order and I feel slowly we improving in this regard. You can see how the boys are taking responsibility and now we are winning matches on the back of late order batting while we have improved as a fielding unit,” he said.
“In international cricket, margin of error is very minimal and if you make mistakes the matches will be taken away from you. This group is very keen and they believe in each other and secondly they are clear about their roles that are entrusted upon them by me and the management. They are executing the plans and they are fulfilling it and taking the responsibility and when a team does that consistently results are bound to [be good],” he added.
Though Pakistan clinched the T20I series, Babar failed to make an impact with the bat making 7, 1 and 19. The right handed batsman said that he is disappointed not to score but added that he is keen to learn from his mistakes.
“Everyone expects me to perform but unfortunately that did not happen. In cricket there is ups and downs but the important part is if you are learning from your mistakes because you can learn a lot when things are not going your way. Need to be positive in every match and series. I am doing the hard work and keep doing that no matter whatever situation I am in but I don't leave my hard work and I believe in me,” said Babar adding that he is happy to see fans coming back to cricket field.
Bangladesh Cricket Board decided to allow spectators in the stadiums – up to 50 percent of the venue's capacity – during the T20Is.
“Fifty percent were allowed but the way the fans supported us in three matches, we enjoyed it and the fans enjoyed it as well. I think we were missing those things and slowly everything is opening up and the fans were allowed to come and I think it is quite a good sign,” said Babar.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh allrounder Shakib al Hasan did not travel with the team and is unlikely to take part in the opening Test after failing to recover fully from the hamstring injury.
“Today Shakib completed his MRI and did not travel with the team and now he is expected to be Dhaka,” a member of the team management confirmed to Cricbuzz.
The series concluding last Test will be played in SBNS from December 4.
